Bag stuffer

Abstract

A bag stuffer for an expandable bag includes an insert defining a pair of substantially planar elements movable from a collapsed orientation enabling compact storage of the expandable bag to an expanded orientation providing a commercial display thereof. The insert is biased to the expanded orientation but a releasable restraint, disposed about the insert and at least partially within the expandable bag, restrains movement of the insert from the collapsed orientation to the expanded orientation. The restraint is preferably a loop of a flexible strip formed by heat sealing one end of the strip to a strip portion adjacent the other end of the strip at at least one point to define a rupturable heat-seal bond. The insert is preferably biased to the expanded orientation by a coil spring having a pair of opposed ends and at least one coil therebetween, each end of the spring passing through a respective one of the planar elements with at least a substantial portion of one coil disposed outwardly of the respective planar element for movement therewith. The insert preferably includes first, second and third substantially planar elements disposed in series parallel to one another, and is biased by a first biasing element substantially disposed intermediate the first and second planar elements and acting to separate the same and a second biasing element substantially disposed intermediate the second and third planar elements and acting to separate the same.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a bag stuffer for an expandable bag, said bag stuffer comprising: (A) insert means movable from a collapsed orientation for enabling compact storage of an expandable bag containing said insert means to an expanded orientation for providing a commercial display of an expandable bag containing said insert means;   (B) biasing means for biasing said insert means to said expand orientation; and   (C) releasable restraining means, disposed about said insert means and adapted to be disposed at least partially within an expandable bag containing said insert means, for restraining movement of said insert means from said collapsed orientation to said expanded orientation;   the improvement wherein said insert means includes first, second and third substantially rigid, substantially planar elements disposed in series parallel to one another, and said biasing means includes a first biasing element substantially disposed intermediate said first and second planar elements and acting to separate the same and a second biasing element substantially disposed intermediate said second and third planar elements and acting to separate the same; said second planar element being formed of a one-piece planar layer, said one-piece planar layer being directly secured to two different biasing elements.   
     
     
       2. The stuffer of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second biasing elements comprises a pair of springs acting in parallel on an adjacent pair of said planar elements. 
     
     
       3. The stuffer of claim 1 wherein at least one of said planar elements differs in size from the remainder of said planar elements. 
     
     
       4. The stuffer of claim 3 wherein each of said planar elements is of a different size. 
     
     
       5. The stuffer of claim 1 wherein each of an associated pair of planar elements define centers thereof, and at least one of said biasing elements is spaced laterally from said centers of an associated pair of planar elements. 
     
     
       6. In a bag stuffer for an expandable bag, said bag stuffer comprising: (A) insert means movable from a collapsed orientation for enabling compact storage of an expandable bag containing said insert means to an expanded orientation for providing a commercial display of an expandable bag containing said insert means;   (B) biasing means for biasing said insert means to said expanded orientation; and   (C) releasable restraining means, disposed about said insert means and adapted to be disposed at least partially within an expandable bag containing said insert means, for restraining movement of said insert means from said collasped orientation to said expanded orientation;   the improvement wherein said insert means includes first, and second and third substantially rigid, substantially planar elements disposed in series parallel to one another, and said biasing means includes a first biasing element substantially disposed intermediate said first and second planar elements and acting to separate the same and a second biasing element substantially disposed intermediate said second and third planar elements and acting to separate the same, said second planar element being formed of two separate and abutting planar layers, each of said separate and abutting planar layers being secured to a different respective one of said biasing elements; at least one of said planar elements being deformable along at least a plurality of parallel axes under the influence of said biasing means.   
     
     
       7. In a bag stuffer for an expandable bag, said bag stuffer comprising: (A) insert means defining a pair of substantially rigid, substantially planar elements movable from a collapsed orientation enabling compact storage of an expandable bag containing said insert means to an expanded orientation providing a commercial display of an expandable bag containing said insert means;   (B) biasing means for biasing said insert means to said expanded orientation; and   (C) releasable restraining means, disposed about said insert means and adapted to be disposed at least partially within an expandable bag containing said insert means, for restraining movement of said insert means from said collapsed orientation to said expanded orientation;   the improvement wherein said biasing means comprises a coil spring having a pair of opposed ends and at least one coil therebetween, each end of said spring passing through a respective one of said planar elements with at least a substantial portion of one coil disposed outwardly of said respective planar element for movement therewith.   
     
     
       8. The stuffer of claim 7 wherein each of said planar elements is cut therethrough to define at least one tab means for engaging a respective end of said biasing means. 
     
     
       9. The stuffer of claim 8 wherein each of said planar elements is cut therethrough to define two opposed tab means for engaging a respective end of said biasing means. 
     
     
       10. The stuffer of claim 7 wherein each of said planar elements has a pair of parallel cuts therethrough to define strip means for engaging a respective end of said biasing means, said strip means being secured to said planar element at both ends of said strip means. 
     
     
       11. The stuffer of claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a conically-shaped helical spring. 
     
     
       12. In a bag stuffer for an expandable bag, said bag stuffer comprising: (A) insert means defining a pair of substantially rigid, substantially planar elements movable from a collapsed orientation enabling compact storage of an expandable bag containing said insert means to an expanded orientation providing a commercial display of an expandable bag containing said insert means;   (B) biasing means for biasing said insert means to said expanded orientation; and   (C) releasable restraining means, disposed about said insert means and adapted to be disposed at least partially within an expandable bag containing said insert means, for restraining movement of said insert means from said collapsed orientation to said expanded orientation;   the improvement wherein each of said planar elements has a pair of parallel cuts therethrough to define strip means, said strip means being secured to said planar element at both ends of said strip means, and said biasing means comprises a conically-shaped helical spring having a pair of opposed ends and at least one coil therebetween, each end of said spring passing through a respective one of said planar elements and engaging a respective strip means for movement therewith.   
     
     
       13. In a bag stuffer for an expandable bag, said bag stuffer comprising: (A) insert means defining a pair of substantially planar elements movable from a collapsed orientation enabling compact storage of an expandable bag containing said insert means to an expanded orientation providing a commercial display of an expandable bag containing said insert means;   (B) biasing means for biasing said insert means to said expanded orientation; and   (C) releasable restraining means, disposed about said insert means and adapted to be disposed at least partially within an expandable bag containing said insert means, for restraining movement of said insert means from said collapsed orientation to said expanded orientation;   the improvement wherein:   said insert means includes first, second and third substantially planar elements disposed in series parallel to one another, and said biasing means includes a first biasing element substantially disposed intermediate said first and second planar elements and acting to separate the same and a second biasing element substantially disposed intermediate said second and third planar elements and acting to separate the same;   each of said biasing elements is a coil spring having a pair of opposed ends and a plurality of coils therebetween, each end of said spring passing through a respective one of said planar elements with at least substantially one coil disposed outwardly of said respective planar element for movement therewith; and   said restraining means is a loop of a flexible strip formed by heat sealing one end of said strip to a strip portion adjacent the other end of said strip at at least one point to define a rupturable heat-seal bond.